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If the sleeves just cover your wrists, and you plan to wash it in warm water, my experience is that you have exactly the right size. (First time this happened I thought the gi was too big and hemmed up the sleeves. I regretted it quickly.)

My advice is not to return it, and not to hem the sleeves unless they are still too long after several warm-water washings. A new gi should be quite roomy. If it isn't, better plan on washing it in cold and drip-drying. My last purchase no longer meets in front, and I swear I have not gained *that* much weight....

Anyways... first I did a 40 deg. Celsius wash in the washing machine and hangdried it afterwards. As far as I can tell, it did nothing to the size - still roomy. I attended a single training pass (Easter Camp with Arisue Sensei ;-) in the dogi and it was a tad to large.

Then I did a 60 deg. Celsius wash in the washing machine followed by some 50 minutes in the drier.
I have not done any training in it after this, but it definitely seems like it has an almost perfect fit now.
The size of the sleeves are more in "harmony" now, I think. Perhaps they have shrunk like 1-1½cm in length , but not more.
It has also shrunk a bit in width (waist).

Now I just need like six months of training to see how it will "fall".

To sum up: I think the size recommendation from Tozando is about right in my case.

Anyways... first I did a 40 deg. Celsius wash in the washing machine and hangdried it afterwards. As far as I can tell, it did nothing to the size - still roomy. I attended a single training pass (Easter Camp with Arisue Sensei ;-) in the dogi and it was a tad to large.

Then I did a 60 deg. Celsius wash in the washing machine followed by some 50 minutes in the drier.
I have not done any training in it after this, but it definitely seems like it has an almost perfect fit now.
The size of the sleeves are more in "harmony" now, I think. Perhaps they have shrunk like 1-1½cm in length , but not more.
It has also shrunk a bit in width (waist).

Tozando keikogi are designed to shrink little, if at all, with just washing. Most people in Japan hang-dry their clothes. It's the drier that will shrink them, but this can be minimized (perhaps even controlled) by drying on the coolest setting (tumble dry, permanent press).

Yesterday I just got a new Tozando keikogi top, the AG-250 "Ryo" (cool) summer aikidogi. Listed on the English site as "Seersucker Aikido Gi". It's just really excellent. My old keikogi was a cheap, run-of-the-mill one I got at a local sport shop. Whenever I did suburi the whole thing would ride up when I lifted my arms, even though on the whole it was on the big side for me. This new one, though, has a great fit, and doesn't ride up at all.

Josh Reyer

The lyf so short, the crafte so longe to lerne,
Th'assay so harde, so sharpe the conquerynge...
- Chaucer

I bought the AG-600 4-5 years ago, size 3L, and the sleeves came right to the wrist line. Now, they are two thirds of the way to my wrist -- perfect. I washed and dried them about at least a half dozen times with fairly high heat before they did not feel too big.

I bought the AG-600 4-5 years ago, size 3L, and the sleeves came right to the wrist line. Now, they are two thirds of the way to my wrist -- perfect. I washed and dried them about at least a half dozen times with fairly high heat before they did not feel too big.

How do you like your Tozando dogi? How does it compare to other dogi you have used? I have studied Kenpo for a long time and am new to Aikido, so I have always worn Karate dogi. I just bought a pair of Tozando Aikido pants and they seem pretty nice so far. I'm thinking about buying a Tozando top as well.

How do you like your Tozando dogi? How does it compare to other dogi you have used? I have studied Kenpo for a long time and am new to Aikido, so I have always worn Karate dogi. I just bought a pair of Tozando Aikido pants and they seem pretty nice so far. I'm thinking about buying a Tozando top as well.

Nathan

It's a very fine dogi as far as I'm concerned. It's very different from, say my old karategi which is made from canvas.
It's also varmer, due to the heavier quality.
The pants has a very good fit and sits tight, even though it has the same drawstring-system as my old pants.
I can only recommend it. Just be aware of the warmness of the dogi.

Yesterday I just got a new Tozando keikogi top, the AG-250 "Ryo" (cool) summer aikidogi. Listed on the English site as "Seersucker Aikido Gi". It's just really excellent.

Those Gi tops are excellent ! I purchased one last year for the summer months and it has been great. It fits well (it has shrunk a bit from numerous washings), and doesn't "stick" to your skin when you perspire like lightweight Karate Gi tops tend to do.

Those Gi tops are excellent ! I purchased one last year for the summer months and it has been great. It fits well (it has shrunk a bit from numerous washings), and doesn't "stick" to your skin when you perspire like lightweight Karate Gi tops tend to do.

Indeed, I'm quite happy with mine. It absorbs sweat quite well without feeling disgusting, is roomy without being baggy, and moves smoothly and freely when I'm doing suburi after a 60 minute taijutsu session. It's worked out quite well so far. The real test, though, will be the ridiculously humid summer months.

Josh Reyer

The lyf so short, the crafte so longe to lerne,
Th'assay so harde, so sharpe the conquerynge...
- Chaucer

I'm about your size and weight. I have one Seersucker jacket, size 5, one Super-Soft jacket, size 5, and one Deluxe, size 4L.

The Seersucker is relatively new; it hasn't shrunk much and feels too long to me; I might end up having to cut its sleeves and (whatever you call the bottom part of the jacket), or maybe give it a few more hot wash and dry cycles in the hopes it'll shrink more. I would roll up its sleeves rather than cutting them, but the fabric is too thin for the rolled-up sleeves to hold throughout the practice. Overall it feels a bit insubstantial to me; after practicing in it for a bit I decided that I prefer a thicker gi, but that's just a personal preference.

The Super-Soft and Deluxe have been in active use for about two years. I'm very happy with both, the best gi tops I ever tried (not that I tried that many though). The 4L Deluxe now feels a tad smaller than I'd like, although fine overall. The 5 Super-Soft feels nicer volume-wise, but I do roll up its sleeves.

I'm a bit confused with Tozando's sizes at this point: being more or less satisfied with my 5 Super-Soft, I ordered the Seersucker of the same size, but with that jacket size 5 doesn't seem to work as well.

As far as the "softness" of the Super-Soft, I can't say I feel much difference between it and the Deluxe at this point. I'll probably go for another Deluxe if I decide to get another Tozando.

Just in case you find this useful - I have Tozando's Deluxe pants of sizes 4L and 5. 4L is perfect for me, 5 is a bit too large/long.

I'm about your size and weight. I have one Seersucker jacket, size 5, one Super-Soft jacket, size 5, and one Deluxe, size 4L.

The Super-Soft and Deluxe have been in active use for about two years. I'm very happy with both, the best gi tops I ever tried (not that I tried that many though). The 4L Deluxe now feels a tad smaller than I'd like, although fine overall. The 5 Super-Soft feels nicer volume-wise, but I do roll up its sleeves.

As far as the "softness" of the Super-Soft, I can't say I feel much difference between it and the Deluxe at this point. I'll probably go for another Deluxe if I decide to get another Tozando.

Great, thanks. Are there any "other" differences between the Super-Soft and the Deluxe? Weight of fabric, collar, anything? What about the anti-bacterial stuff, do you notice it? I think I might be allergic to it. Does the Super-Soft gi have it as well? Also, how heavy are the two gis - double weave?

Are there any "other" differences between the Super-Soft and the Deluxe? Weight of fabric, collar, anything? What about the anti-bacterial stuff, do you notice it? I think I might be allergic to it. Does the Super-Soft gi have it as well? Also, how heavy are the two gis - double weave?

The gi's are both double weave. Pretty heavy by comparison to others I've had. A huge pain to pack for a trip. I can't say I feel or notice much difference between the two; what difference I do notice I'd attribute more to difference in size than to anything else. I mean Tozando does claim difference in fabric, but I can't say I see much of it. Heck, they might've sent me a Deluxe instead of a Super-Soft! :-) Don't know about the anti-bacterial stuff - both stink equally bad if I don't take good care of them :-) I don't think the Super-Soft has it though.